text:
The Minister of Justice of the Government of Zimbabwe, Mr P Chinamasa M.P., has asserted that:
"any decision that
the (SADC) Tribunal may have or may make in future against the Republic of
Zimbabwe is null and void".
Below is legal opinion on the validity of this statement.
Attached, for convenience, are:
1. The SADC Tribunal judgement of 28 November 2008 on the Zimbabwean farm case (complete document)
2. The SADC Tribunal judgement of 28 November 2008 on the Zimbabwean farm case (final page)
3. The SADC Tribunal ruling of 5 June 2009: Chief Justice Pillay stressed that Zimbabwe had not only breached the November order, but was in contempt.
J.J. GAUNTLETT SC (former Chairman of the General Council of the Bar, South Africa)
Prof J.L. JOWELL QC (member of Blackstone Chambers and former law dean, University College London and Vice-Provost)
Cape Town and London
3 September 2009
(a) Zimbabwe is a signatory to the SADC Treaty;
(b) Zimbabwe is bound to the Protocol despite not ratifying it;
(c) Zimbabwe has conceded the SADC Tribunal's jurisdiction; and
(d) The SADC Tribunal has held that Zimbabwe is subject to its jurisdiction.
Zimbabwe is a signatory to
the SADC Treaty
(b) Zimbabwe is bound to the Protocol
despite not ratifying it
(c) Zimbabwe has conceded the SADC
Tribunal's jurisdiction
(d) The SADC Tribunal has held that
Zimbabwe is subject to its jurisdiction
We advise accordingly.
(former Chairman of the General
Council of the Bar, South Africa)
Prof J.L.
(member of Blackstone Chambers and former law dean, University College London and Vice-Provost)
Cape Town and
3 September
This principle forms part of customary
international law, and is reaffirmed and codified in article 26 of the Vienna
Convention on the Law of Treaties of 1969, which provides that "[e]very treaty
in force is binding upon the parties to it and must be performed by them in good
[2] Thermo Radiant Oven Sales Ltd v Nelspruit Bakeries 1969 (2) SA 295 (A); H Clerk (Doncaster) Ltd v Wilkinson 1965 All ER 934 (CA); Standard Bank of SA v Minister of Bantu Education 1966 (4) SA 229 (N) at 242H; De Wet v Western Bank Ltd 1977 (4) SA 770 (T) at 779C-G; Joubert et al (eds) Law of South Africa (1st reissue 1999) vol 14 para 289 (text at notes 8-9).
By Peta
03 September
Political temperatures are rising in Zimbabwe before a crucial
summit of the
Southern African Development Community to be held next week in
Kinshasa. The
group guaranteed the political agreement signed a year ago by
Robert Mugabe and MDC leader and now Prime Minister Morgan
In the run-up to the SADC summit, Zimbabwe's Justice Minister
Chinamasa ordered the release of about 1,500 jailed women and
prisoners, 10 percent of the prison population held in appalling
according to local and international human rights organizations.
released were those who are terminally ill.
Those convicted of
violent crimes were not released.
Chinamasa has blamed U.S. and EU travel
and financial sanctions against
Zanu-PF and a few companies that are close
to the party for prison
Zanu-PF has criticized Prime
Minister Morgan Tsvangirai for failing to get
the restrictions lifted
against the inclusive government.
Chinamasa also told the public media
Tuesday that Zimbabwe does not
recognize SADC's Tribunal, a court of last
resort for the region's citizens.
Chinamasa said that two thirds of member
states should ratify the tribunal
for it to have jurisdiction in
In June, Zimbabwe was found guilty of contempt of the
Tribunal's ruling
last year that more than 70 white farmers should be left
in peace on their
land. The Tribunal's contempt finding was referred to the
Kinshasa summit.
South African advocate Jeremy Gauntlett, who represented
the farmers at the
tribunal, said Zimbabwe's deputy attorney general twice
confirmed to the
tribunal that he accepted its jurisdiction, and did so a
third time in
The Africa Director of the International
Commission of Jurists, Arnold
Tsunga, said Zimbabwe would have to withdraw
from the SADC community of
states if it does not recognize the validity of
its organ, the Tribunal.
The first farmer to receive protection from the
tribunal, Mike Campbell, had
his farm house burned down Sunday according to
local reports. Three days
earlier, his son-in-law had his house burned down
on the same farm in
central Zimbabwe.
Monday, Mr. Tsvangirai issued a
strong critique of the political agreement.
He said state media continued
what he said was a "vicious" campaign
promoting "hatred and acrimony" to
bolster the Zanu-PF.
He said there is a "selective" application of the
rule of law, including the
persecution and prosecution of MDC Parliament
members, which inflames
political tensions.
Mr. Tsvangirai said while
outstanding issues from the political agreement
remain unresolved, the
international community would not invest in Zimbabwe.
He called for the
Southern African Development Community to decide at the
summit when it would
begin the six-month review it had pledged when the
inclusive government was
sworn into power.
September 3, 2009
By Ntando
JOHANNESBURG - South Africa's ruling African National Congress
(ANC) said
Thursday that South Africa was looking to Zimbabwe's unity
government to
bring about speedy political, economic and social recovery in
the country.
Party deputy secretary-general, Thandi Modise said more than
three million
Zimbabweans who had crossed the border were placing a huge
strain on South
Africa's health care, education and housing
And her country wanted to see a recovery in Zimbabwe that
would allow the
exiles to return home.
"It is important to South
Africa and to the ANC in particular to begin to
see a situation in Zimbabwe
which will enable Zimbabweans in South Africa
and elsewhere in the world to
come back to Zimbabwe to rebuild their
country," Modise said
"I think
there are more than three million Zimbabweans in South Africa. We
would want
to see a situation back in Zimbabwe which will enable these
people to go
back home."
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan
Tsvangirai of
the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) formed a unity
government in
February, but are still squabbling over a power-sharing
agreement that could
have paved the way for progressive
Modise said South Africa and southern Africa as a whole wanted
to see a
Zimbabwe that is beginning to work and to put its citizens first
and her
country wanted negotiations between Mugabe and the MDC to pick up
"That is why we are encouraging the talks between President Mugabe
and the
MDC to be more positive, to be faster, because all of us need to see
countries working as well as they can do," she said.
Years of
economic crisis, characterised by record rates of hyperinflation,
millions of Zimbabweans to seek work in South Africa, where there
bloody clashes last year between economic exiles and South Africans
about their jobs.
South African President Jacob Zuma visited Zimbabwe
last week to press
Mugabe and Tsvangirai to resolve their differences so
that foreign economic
aid can begin to flow in.
Talking about
repatriating Zimbabweans in South Africa Modise said: "You
cannot turn your
back on your neighbours when they are in need.
"So President Zuma will do
what he can to mediate to ensure that things are
working in
Tsvangirai said on Tuesday he wanted next week's summit of
regional leaders
to push Mugabe to fulfill the power-sharing agreement and
to speed up
Tsvangirai said the Southern African Development
Community, meeting in the
Democratic Republic of Congo on September 7 should
remove obstacles to the
unity pact.
Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:59pm
By Nelson Banya
HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's relations
with the European Union are
improving, but there will be no direct funding
for the Harare government
until political talks with the bloc are concluded,
an EU official said on
The EU, one of President Robert
Mugabe's staunchest critics, imposed
sanctions on the veteran ruler and his
inner circle and suspended direct aid
in 2002 over charges of rights abuses
and electoral fraud.
Mugabe accuses the EU of punishing him for seizing
white-owned farms to
resettle landless blacks.
Mugabe, and long-time
foe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, formed a
power-sharing government in
February in a bid to end a political crisis that
followed last year's
disputed elections.
The new government is working to re-engage the EU and
the United States.
Western donors have demanded broad political and
economic reforms before
giving direct aid to the government. The donors
currently provide only
humanitarian assistance.
Dominique Davoux, the
EU's head of economic co-operation and food security
in Zimbabwe, told a
business conference in Harare that efforts to restore
ties were being
"Zimbabwe's international relations are on the mend, with bilateral
multilateral re-engagement efforts taking centre stage, starting with
Prime Minister's visit to Brussels in June," Davoux said.
moving very slowly and we want it speeded up to deal with areas of
on both sides."
The talks between Harare and the EU are meant to resolve
the dispute over
Zimbabwe's human rights record, political reforms and
sanctions slapped on
Mugabe's previous ZANU-PF government, as well as the
resumption of aid.
Davoux said any possible financial assistance to the
new unity government --
which says it requires about $10 billion to rebuild
the economy -- depended
on successful negotiations.
for Zimbabwe within the EU-ACP (African, Caribbean and
Pacific) partnership
framework are premised on normal relations," Davoux
until the political dialogue concludes favourably on areas of
concern to the
EU, our current co-operation is limited to direct support to
the beneficiary
Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) accuses
Mugabe's ZANU-PF
of stalling key reforms demanded by the West but ZANU-PF in
turn says the
MDC is not doing enough to convince its Western allies to
remove sanctions.
By Alex
03 September 2009
The country's largest teachers' union has this
week been accused of
deliberately disrupting the start of the new school
term, with observers
commenting that the union has highly politicised
Thousands of members of the Zimbabwe Teachers' Association
(ZIMTA) on
Wednesday embarked on a nationwide strike to coincide with the
start of the
new term. The teachers' association said the strike only
started picking up
momentum on Thursday, with an official saying up to 95%
of its members have
downed tools. Other reports suggest the strike has been
less dramatic, with
education officials saying the 'strike' more closely
resembles a 'go-slow'.
Education Minister David Coltart explained on
Thursday that the majority of
teachers have reported to work, despite the
nationwide strike called by
ZIMTA last week. The association had called for
the industrial action over
unresolved salary grievances, arguing the
government has not been sincere in
guaranteeing better wages and working
conditions for the country's
educators. The Education and Finance Ministries
have previously called for
patience from disgruntled civil servants,
explaining the government does not
have the financial resources to improve
salaries yet.
An attempt to avert the strike on Monday failed when a
meeting between the
Union and government officials did not materialise.
However, Education
Minister Coltart, as well as Finance Minister Tendai
Biti, met with the
leaders of the country's two other, smaller teachers'
unions on Tuesday, to
encourage a productive start to the school term.
Officials from the
Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) and the
Teachers Union of
Zimbabwe told the Ministers that their members were being
encouraged to
return to their posts at the start of the term on Wednesday,
saying a strike
was futile and a threat to the country's
Minister Coltart told SW Radio Africa on Thursday that ZIMTA
teachers only
left their posts after union officials circulated a letter,
telling their
members to do so. Coltart explained that mass confusion is now
the order of
the day, with many teachers embarking on a 'go-slow' rather
than a full on
strike, but he added that some teaching is underway. The
Minister said that
the timing of the ZIMTA strike is suspicious, accusing
the union of
deliberately disrupting the start of a very important school
"This is a cynical action by ZIMTA that has been deliberately
planned to
have the greatest possible impact," Coltart said. "It shows
disregard for the welfare of the students."
The strike has
revealed deep divisions between the members of the different
unions, with
critics arguing the move by ZIMTA is highly politicised. ZIMTA
has always
been a ZANU PF aligned union and has never before called for
strike action.
On the other hand, the usually more militant PTUZ is said to
be supportive
of the MDC, and has exercised more patience with the fledgling
government. Observers have said the ZIMTA strike is a deliberate
attempt to
discredit the MDC, which now has the troubled Finance and
Ministries to turn around, after they completely collapsed while
in the
hands of ZANU PF.
ZIMTA's Acting Chief Executive, Sifiso Ndlovu, on
Thursday said such
accusations are 'neither here nor there', arguing their
sole motive is to
urge the government to meet the salary demands of
teachers. Ndlovu argued,
"It is unfortunate that students will suffer and
that education will be
compromised," but he said he hoped the strike would
be concluded well before
students write exams.
"ZIMTA is a-political,
has always been a-political and will remain
a-political," Ndlovu said. "We
will continue to engage with the government
and represent teachers for their
Meanwhile, there has been an angry outcry over Minister Biti's
attempts to
persuade striking teachers to rescind their decision, after he
said that
Robert Mugabe is taking home a monthly salary of
"Unless there is a dramatic improvement in the economy and
improves by 300 per cent, we have no fiscal space for a salary
increment at
the moment. Even the President is currently earning US$300 and
we can't draw
water from stones. The economy is not performing," Biti told
However the statement will likely cause anger among civil
servants who do
not have the financial resources to support their families,
never mind take
medical breaks in Dubai or pay foreign university tutelage
for their
children. It is widely acknowledged that Mugabe is the wealthiest
man in
Zimbabwe as a result of years of dictatorial rule and corruption.
Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:21pm
By Nelson Banya
HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's political
uncertainty and the government's
hold over electricity policies will
discourage private investment in the
sector, experts said on Thursday,
dimming prospects of economic recovery.
The southern African country
suffers chronic electricity shortages, which
have hurt industry and
households, and state-owned power utility Zesa says
it requires up to $5
billion to expand generation and rehabilitate ageing
generates about half of its electricity and also buys a third of
its needs
mostly from Democratic Republic of Congo and Mozambique, but has
to pay for imports.
Zimbabwe may find it difficult to attract private
investment in the power
sector due to negative sentiment about the country
after years of economic
decline, analysts say.
Miners and
manufacturers at an industrial conference said frequent power
cuts were
stalling economic recovery and tensions in the new administration
undermine policy-making.
"There is need for policy consistency, because
the energy projects are
long-term. It's actually a surprise that we have
never initiated any power
project since independence in 1980," independent
energy consultant
Simbarashe Mangwengwende, a former Zesa chief executive
officer, told the
"It is very important, if you are to
come up with bankable power projects,
to have positive investor perception.
This is a factor of the political
President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai set up a
fragile unity government in February in a bid to end a protracted economic
crisis, but disputes have stalled economic reforms.
Zimbabwe has
potential to generate an additional 7,500 MW from the current
through expanding output at its Hwange thermal plant and Kariba
station and by construction of a 1,600 MW hydropower station
jointly with
Zambia, a 1,400 MW thermal power plant and another 300 MW plant
World Bank country economist Rogers Dhliwayo told the conference
Zimbabwe needs to guarantee a return on independent power producers'
"It is imperative that power is properly priced to ensure
private sector participation, and a situation where politicians
intervene in
revenue collection is not conducive," said Dhliwayo.
government official told an energy forum on Wednesday that the government
had completed a draft policy giving guidelines on investment in the
But Mangwengwende said government's dominance of Zimbabwe's
energy sector
also hindered investment.
"A situation where government
is the policy-maker, regulator and energy
deliverer is clearly untenable.
Government should realise that their role is
policy setting and regulatory
oversight," he said.
While Zimbabwe had set up a regulatory authority, it
needed to be
independent from state control, especially in determining
Mangwengwende said.
Zesa, which currently owes its external
power suppliers at least $57 million
but is itself owed $200 million through
unpaid domestic bills, could raise
revenues by increasing billing and
revenue collection, said Mangwengwende.
2009-09-03 21:04
Harare - Zimbabwean
President Robert Mugabe will tell regional leaders at a
summit in the
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) next week that Western
sanctions are to
blame for his country's failure to quickly emerge from an
economic crisis,
his spokesperson said Thursday.
George Charamba, Mugabe's chief
spokesperson, was quoted by state-controlled
media on Thursday as saying
that Mugabe would tell the 15- nation Southern
African Development Community
(SADC) that targeted Western sanctions were
the "the single largest threat
to the fulfilment of the ... agreement".
Charamba was referring to the
six-month-old power-sharing agreement between
Mugabe's Zanu-PF and the
former opposition Movement for Democratic Change
(MDC) of Morgan
Although the coalition government has managed to reign in
hyperinflation and
get public service workers back on the job, its progress
towards an economic
turnaround has been blocked by quarrels between the
The MDC accuses Mugabe of failing to break with his past
repressive policies and blocking the implementation of
democratic reforms,
as called for in the power-sharing accord.
cannot budge'
Among the sticking points are Mugabe's refusal to
rescind his unilateral
appointments of his cronies to the posts of central
bank and
attorney-general and the ongoing harassment of opposition activists
white farmers, among others.
For Mugabe to back down on these
issues was "inconceivable", according to
Charamba, who said of the
85-year-old leader of 29 years: he "cannot budge".
The MDC has referred
the issues to SADC, which brokered the Zimbabwe
agreement. The party and its
supporters are hoping that Zimbabwe's
neighbours will end their
long-standing support for Mugabe at the Kinshasa
said Mugabe would tell SADC that Western travel bans and asset
freezes on
Mugabe, Zanu-PF top brass and allied companies "had a devastating
impact ...
on the generality of the people and economic turnaround efforts".
African President Jacob Zuma, during a visit to Zimbabwe last week,
blamed the slow progress on Mugabe's failure to meet "certain
set by Western donors.
The power-sharing government was established to
try to end Zimbabwe's twin
political and economic crises. An estimated 100
MDC supporters were murdered
in disputed presidential elections last year,
while the economy hit rock
bottom and inflation hit 500 billion per
The cash-strapped government has so far obtained only a fraction of
$10bn in aid it said it needed to rebuild the economy.
September 2009
Harare - Robert Mugabe (Pictured) has "pardoned" more than
1500 prisoners
because his government is so broke, it can't feed them.
Significantly, the
ministry of justice announced that the pardon will not be
extended to people
accused of "plotting against the government.
as well are in for it, as are rapists, who also do not qualify.
Those to be
released are the terminally ill, juveniles and women. The
Ministry of
Justice announcement comes after that infamous documentary,
"Hell Hole",
shown by South African television and shot secretly in
A couple of prison officers lost their jobs as a result, accused
of having
helped the filmmakers. I was warned this evening, however, that
this move is
a prelude to darker
times. A source from within Mugabe's
party claims that his party and his
president have now decided that sooner
rather than later, the MDC is going
to walk.
If this source is
correct, you will, in the very near future, hear of a
surge in violence
across the country. It will be put down to "hardcore"
criminals who were
pardoned because the government had no money to feed
them. Later, of course,
it will emerge that the violence is actually
politically motivated.
Preparations for by-elections would have begun.
Whether he walks or stays
on his "irreversible train", Morgan Tsvangirai
will find the corridors of
power very cold indeed. He has, in the eyes of
his "principal", Robert "The
Solution"Mugabe, proved to be of no use. He
can't bring in the dollars. And
without that, there is no need to tolerate
his presence at Munhumutapa any
longer, unless he capitulates and does so
utterly, as happened with Joshua
The new strategy has taken shape in the following form: Mugabe has
advised that his election as president and his swearing-in were fait
accomppli that the African Union and SADC accepted.. Mugabe had just been
hurriedly sworn-in when he left the country to attend the African Union
Summit in Egypt. It was there that the African Union received him as head of
state, and then resolved to hand the matter of Zimbabwe negotiations to
SADC, which threw the hot potato back into Thabo Mbeki's
Tsvangirai, SADC and Mbeki dealt with Mugabe as a Head of State,
Patrick Chinamasa spitting out the words: "The president's position is
non-negotiable!" to journalists. Therefore, the fall of this Inclusive
Government will result only in the country going back for parliamentary
elections, organised and presided over by Mugabe.
The hope is to claw
back the majority in parliament that way. And set up a
government "with a
clean conscience", as ZANU PF puts it, telling the world
that they had tried
to reconcile with their internal and western enemies,
but these had proved
that they did not want such reconciliation.
Campaigning, Tsvangirai will
no longer be able to say that he "holds the
key" to aid from outside
Zimbabwe, as he has done before. Mugabe would
simply retort that the keys
had failed to work last time Tsvangirai took
them to Europe and America and
they would never work until land was restored
back to white farmers (that
is, after all the anchor upon which he has
campaigned in every single
election since 1999. The pardon, then, is a
sideshow. The Main Attraction is
yet to come.
You can already see that, increasingly impatient, Mugabe has
thrown his toys
out of the cot, refused to play with Tsvangirai any more and
is sulking in a
corner waiting for the SADC meeting in the DRC next week. He
will quite
simply not do anything more to appease the MDC. Already, it is
clear to
close observers that the dictator has made up his mind that
Tsvangirai and
the MDC have failed to live up to the job he had in mind
them: turning around the economy and getting money in from the outside
for reconstruction.
He sees no benefit accruing to him and his
party from any more concessions
he gives the MDC. Which effectively means
that, for Mugabe, the Inclusive
Government is dead.
It is Tsvangirai now
who is clinging to hope, quite aware, as he said at his
press conference
yesterday, that "there is not other option" for him.
Mugabe, after all, can
not be defeated, Tsvangirai has said before.
By Violet Gonda
3 September
The Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU) and the Matabeleland
Party (MFP) have accused the police and customs officials at
border post of political harassment and seizing their campaign
Thulani Dhlamini from ZAPU told SW Radio Africa on Thursday
that the ZAPU
executive in South Africa had sourced funding for the printing
of t-shirts
for a rally in Plumtree.
But he said the materials were
confiscated last week by police, state agents
and custom officials at the
border with South Africa, who said the t-shirts
were illegal. Dhlamini said
even the single t-shirts they had as
individuals were confiscated. The ZAPU
official claims they were told by
the authorities that 'only ZANU and MDC
T-shirts were allowed to be worn in
Zim,' and that they were undermining the
unity government.
They were allegedly held in custody for 18 hours at the
Beitbridge police
station where they were subjected to interrogation about
the names of party
officials and their positions. Dhlamini said they were
only released after
being forced to apologise verbally to the Member in
Charge for bringing the
t-shirts into Zimbabwe. However, the pamphlets and
t-shirts were not
returned to them.
Meanwhile, the Matabeleland Freedom
Party has also accused Zimbabwean border
authorities of political
harassment. MFP member David Magagula told us that
officials at the border
either confiscate opposition party regalia or charge
exorbitant fees to make
it impossible for the parties to ship their goods
into Zimbabwe. Magagula
claims he was recently charged R3 000 for about 150
t-shirts. He said: "This
was exorbitant and far more than we had printed the
t-shirts for. So we told
them we were going back to South Africa with our
t-shirts but we made as if
we were returning and then we hid the t-shirts
and passed."
He accused
the authorities of only 'recognising ZANU PF and MDC', and
refusing to
acknowledge that there are other parties in the country. He
said: "Many
people voted for MDC but it did not mean they liked the MDC or
they liked
Morgan Tsvangirai. It is only because they had no alternatives.
It was a
vote of protest because people don't want Robert Mugabe."
He claimed some
border officials said Zimbabwe is now a two party state and
called them
'dissidents'. "That shows we are not wanted, why do we force
ourselves to be
Zimbabwean, when Zimbabweans do not want us."
Controversially, the MFP
does not want to be ruled by a person who is not
from the Matabeleland
region. Magagula said: "The party was formed so that
we liberate
Matabeleland from Mashonaland, along borders that were there
Observers say ZANU PF continues leading the country down this
trap of not
recognising other political parties, creating intolerance and
Additionally the Gukurahundi massacres have still not been dealt
with, and
this will forever remain a painful issue in Matabeleland while the
government continues to ignore it.
Public Affairs Section
U.S. Embassy,
Press Release: U.S. Congressional Delegation visit to Zimbabwe
Harare: September 3, 2009- A delegation of U.S. Congressmen concluded two days of meetings with senior Zimbabwean government officials in Harare during which it discussed a range of issues including the performance of the inclusive government, unresolved issues of the Global Political Agreement signed last September 15, and the role of the United States in supporting the government and the Zimbabwean people.
The five-member delegation was the largest group of American policymakers Zimbabwe has hosted in more than a decade and was led by Representative Gregory Meeks (D-New York) and included Representatives Jack Kingston (R-Georgia), Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-Texas), Melvin Watt (D- North Carolina) and Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio).
The delegation met separately with President Robert Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, and Speaker of the House of Assembly Lovemore Moyo and the tri-partite chairs of the Parliamentary Select Committee on the Constitution.
Following their meeting with the Prime Minister, Representative Meeks, speaking on behalf of the delegation, explained, "This delegation and my government are supportive of the inclusive political arrangement established between the three primary political parties in Zimbabwe. We recognize that it is not intended as a permanent arrangement and as such is bound to experience some growing pains. However, to have a reasonable prospect of delivering benefits to the Zimbabwean people it is paramount that the signatories work in good faith with each other. We are concerned that multiple issues remain unresolved with respect to the Global Political Agreement."
While addressing America's relationship with Zimbabwe and what additional support the U.S. government might provide, Meeks commented, "Our support for the Zimbabwean people cannot be questioned. U.S. direct assistance to the Zimbabwean people exceeded $310 million, primarily food aid, non-food emergency assistance, health assistance, and democracy building support this year. We have always stood ready to help the Zimbabwean people."
"During Prime Minister Tsvangirai's visit to Washington in June, President Obama promised additional support in the areas of agriculture and education. Beyond this, increased U.S. engagement and assistance will depend on further political and economic reform; and compliance with the Global Political Agreement," said Meeks.
# # #
Issued by the U.S. Embassy in Harare. Contact: Tim Gerhardson, Public Affairs Officer, Tel. +263 4 75800-1, Fax: +263 4 758802 Website: http://harare.usembassy.gov
Annual Congress,
04.08.2009 Comments from Ambassador Xavier
Marchal Head
of Delegation of the European Commission to Zimbabwe.
I feel privileged to be invited
again to address your annual Congress. It is taking place in the context
of a new political Dispensation, the main objective of which is to pull Zimbabwe
out of a profound crisis, while paving the way for a better democratic
environment. One would expect that as a result
of the Global Political Agreement, appeasement would now prevail over the land
issue. This is unfortunately not the case, making the final resolution of this
key issue much more difficult. I will try however to make
suggestions aimed at helping Zimbabweans to bring the land issue to a proper
conclusion. Speaking with
authority But can I claim that I can speak
with sufficient authority? Consider these: 1) this is the fourth time I am
addressing the CFU annual Congress; 2) I am an agricultural engineer by academic
background; 3) I am the son of a farmer from the Congo; 4) I am also a
diplomat. I have been in Zimbabwe for four
years now, significantly and positively involved in agriculture, food security,
and the land issue. The European Commission has tabled important proposals
regarding agriculture and the land issue, as has been the case notably
concerning the coffee industry, which has virtually disappeared from Zimbabwe.
Perhaps I have gained credit points to comment and advice. Thanks to my academic background,
I understand better some of the key realities related to agriculture in
Zimbabwe: 1) Before 2000 Commercial agriculture was her largest employer; 2)
without it becoming again a key driver of the economy, Zimbabwe will not
redress; 3) it cannot exist in absence of dynamic and self sufficient small
scale communal farming, and I repeat here what I have said last year, so
important I feel it is: small scale farmer need commercial farmers for technical
and economic reasons; commercial farmers need small scale farmers for social and
political reasons; 4) of course, commercial agriculture needs an environment in
which property rights are respected, the rule of law prevails, investment is
encouraged and possible, farmers are not brutalized, farms are not grabbed for
the wrong reasons. As regards my past, my family
left Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1967, narrowly escaping death
and leaving their farms assets behind. In May of this year, forty years after, I
had a chance to return to what is left of my homestead. I understand very well
the ordeal of commercial farmers, evicted as a result of a land reform that has
derailed from its core and laudable objectives. But as a diplomat, I am neutral,
even if proactive, and I look at the land issue in a wider context of a country
in search of its destiny. And my assessment here is that this is the time to
finally bring it to a conclusion. And for that to be possible, all stakeholders
have to compromise, and accept that they all have to give something for the sake
of their country. The GPA, the basis for solving the land
issue Let us now look at what the GPA
and the 100 day economic plan have to say about the land issue.
The GPA recognizes "the
centrality of issues relating to the rule of law, respect of human rights,
democracy and governance". The GPA foresees a comprehensive, transparent and
non-partisan land audit being conducted "for the purpose of establishing
accountability and eliminating multiple farm ownerships". It also foresees that
citizens would be considered for land irrespective of race, gender, religion,
ethnicity or political affiliation. It states that security of tenure to all
land holders would be assured. It finally commits to mobilize compensation for
the former land owners. The 100 day plan commits the
Government to "reducing conflicts and disputes on the land and ensure security
of persons and assets". It also commits the Government to undertake "an audit of
the BIPPAs that have been violated and the costs of such violations", as well as
to "regularize BIPPAs farms that were resettled". Can we say that the GPA provides
a basis for addressing the land issue in a positive and comprehensive manner? I
think yes. Translating the commitments of
the GPA and of the 100 day plan in concrete deliverables should now become
priority. Zimbabwe could implement an
immediate moratorium on land occupations, recognizing that violent action to
force farmers out is a violation of the rule of law. Zimbabwe could recognize
the political, moral and judicial force of the SADC Tribunal and respects its
judgment. Zimbabwe should adhere to BIPPAs. The land audit should be undertaken
without anymore delay, on the basis of clear terms of reference, respecting the
spirit of the GPA. Substance should be given to the commitment to security of
tenure to all land holders. A credible and coherent strategy to address the
issue of compensation should be developed. Is this possible to achieve? I
think that the new Dispensation offers an opportunity to do just this, in
addition to having the obligation to do so. Possible role for EC and
EU Can the European Commission, on
behalf of the European Union, play a role to that respect? The answer is also
yes. The European Union is conducting
formal political dialogue with Zimbabwe, with the aim of normalizing a
relationship seriously strained since 2002. The end game is full EU-Zimbabwe
normalization. The process is a two way roadmap: the Zimbabwean track of
implementing the GPA, and a resulting EU track of progressive reengagement. An
achievable process indeed, in which the land issue is part. When the Prime Minister visited
Brussels on 18 June last, leading an important multi-party Governmental
delegation, he asked for EC support to implement the land audit provided for in
the GPA. We responded positively. We need now to move into
action. The Prime Minister also asked for
support to improve food security in his country. We also responded positively.
In addition to having significantly supported food aid/food security in the last
years ( hundreds of million euros committed since 2002), the EC has dispatched a
full fledged technical mission to Zimbabwe, currently still in country, to
prepare a Short term Strategy to support the new Dispensation, which we
committed to implement when the Prime Minister was in Brussels. Food security is
one of its pillars, and so are a number of actions in support of the
implementation of the GPA, including supporting the land
audit. But in the end, the key element
remains a positive outcome of the EU-Zimbabwe political dialogue and its
resulting full normalization of EU relationship with this country. Then the EU
can unleash massive assistance, EC and EU Member States combined. The EC will
then implement a very significant package to support agriculture, rural
development, land, and environment. In conclusion I flew a number of times in a
small plane over Zimbabwe. I was always struck by the extent in which the land
lays idle and uncultivated, be it commercial or communal. But I have also always
been very impressed by how extensively communal land has been improved so as to
practice anti erosion agriculture; this is unique in all Africa. There is
clearly a huge potential there. Transferring land in an arbitrary manner, or for
patronage reasons, is not the answer to the land issue in Zimbabwe. Proper and
realistic policies, an environment conducive to investments, full recognition
that there is indeed a need to properly close the effects of past history but
within the rule of law and with proper compensations, constitute instead
combined elements of answer to the Zimbabwean land issue. Land has always been at the
core of the tensions that have prevented this country from gaining full benefit
from its potentialities. But as I explained there is a way forward, and the new
Dispensation has the historical responsibility to deliver. In the end, Zimbabwe is a
sovereign country. But like any other nation in the world, Zimbabwe needs
international engagement and investment. For this to be there, confidence is
needed, building upon clear rules and rights that are fully respected.
The EC, on behalf of the EU, can
significantly contribute to these goals. Thank you
Court documents show two ministers are defying
President Robert Mugabe in a
power struggle over control of a mining
By a correspondent
from the September 3, 2009
Johannesburg, South Africa - As leader of Zimbabwe since
liberation in 1980,
President Robert Mugabe has ruled with an iron fist,
using a North-Korean
trained brigade to put down a rebellion; eliminating
rivals through show
trials or allegedly via mysterious car crashes; and,
during elections,
intimidating opposition supporters, journalists, and human
rights advocates
with state-sponsored violence.
But is Mr. Mugabe
actually still in charge?
A civil court case, launched by a Zimbabwean
businessman to get back assets
that were nationalized under Mugabe's
government, raises serious questions
about who really controls the levers of
power in Zimbabwe today and whether
any promises made by Mugabe would be
honored by the ministers and generals
in his own
Documents - including private cellphone text messages from
senior Mugabe
ministers - obtained by the Monitor from public court records
in the case
brought by businessman Mutumwa Mawere in the Zimbabwe Supreme
Court in
Harare, indicate that the authority of the 85-year-old Mugabe is
directly undermined by two of his closest confidants, Justice Minister
Patrick Chinamasa and Defense Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Chinamasa is the chief respondent in the Mawere case, which opens Friday
Sept. 4, and Mr. Mnangagwa - a former intelligence chief - is a
front-runner in the bid to replace Mugabe.
"The question is, 'who is
really in charge of the ZANU-PF [Mugabe's party]?'
" says Takawira
Musavengana, a senior researcher at the Institute for
Security Studies in
Tshwane (Pretoria) and knowledgeable about the Mawere
case. "When we focus
on Mugabe, we're missing the ball. Who are the people
behind Mugabe? What do
they want? What interests do they have to protect?
These power brokers will
stop at nothing to make sure that Mugabe or someone
who sings from the same
hymn sheet is in charge."
The Mugabe succession battle
Kremlinologists watching senior communists at a Red Square parade,
watchers have been following rumors of the Mugabe succession battle
nearly a decade, but rarely have the private exchanges between
sparring ministers come out into the public. The implications of
succession battle could come to a climax in December, when ZANU-PF
holds a
congress to elect its party leaders. Depending on which faction
wins, the
choice of Mugabe's successor could have wide-reaching effects,
undermining the current fragile coalition government with
ZANU-PF's chief
opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change, and
threaten a return
of intimidation and violence by security agencies aiming
to retain
The only thing that is certain, for now, is that ZANU-PF's key
players are
not playing nicely, among themselves or with
A tycoon spurned
Mr. Mawere, a multimillionaire
businessman who once had close ties with the
ZANU-PF government, and
particularly with members of his own Karanga tribal
group, owns a massive
business empire with interests across Southern Africa.
But Mawere was
accused of "externalizing" - taking out of the country - some
$80 million in
assets from his Zimbabwe-based asbestos mine, Shabanie
Mashaba Mine Holdings
(SMMH), and the Zimbabwean government moved to
nationalize his company in
While Mawere has fallen out with some key ZANU-PF leaders -
including former
business partner Mnangagwa, the defense minister - he has
tried to open
negotiations directly with Mugabe. On May 9, and again the
following day, he
met personally with Mugabe in Tshwane during the
inauguration proceedings
for newly elected South African President Jacob
Zuma. In June, he began to
have almost daily text-message conversations with
Mugabe's Reserve Bank
governor, Gideon Gono.
Although close to
Mugabe, Dr. Gono is now battling to retain his job, since
it was Gono who
printed so much Zimbabwe currency that the country suffered
an inflation
rate of 231 million percent.
Text-message evidence
In a June 6
text message, written in typical shorthand on his BlackBerry,
Gono wrote to
Mawere that there was strong opposition within Mugabe's inner
circle to
resolving the Mawere case. Justice Minister Chinamasa warned Gono
involving himself in the matter on Mugabe's behalf.
"Chinam group
insisting tht me and vakuru [the old man, i.e. Mugabe] shudnt
interfere with
the cot processes - as it wil set bad precedents'!" Gono
wrote in his
clipped text-messages.
"If w do tht it makes it dificult 2 argue tht we
cant do the same with [Roy
Bennet MDC Treasurer who is in court facing
treason charges], Jestina Mukoko
[tortured human rights activist accused of
plotting to kill Mugabe] and
others. U c the strait jacket vakuru is being
given 2 wear."
In their Harare offices, members of ZANU-PF's higher
echelon fretted that
Mugabe and his lieutenant Gono were about to return
Mawere's mining company,
and they mobilized to stop them from doing
In a May 19 letter, A.M. Gwaradzimba, the government's administrator
Mawere's former company SMM wrote to Chinamasa, the justice minister,
instructing him to resist any efforts to "give back" Mawere's
According to the letter, a Gono deputy told Mr. Gwaradzimba that
"this was a
directive from the highest office in the land, coming through
the office of
the Governor of the [Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe]. According to
him, a deal
might have been struck between the President and MDM (Mawere),
whereby the
Government of Zimbabwe would give back the control and ownership
of SMM to
MDM. I however advised [the deputy] to go back and advise why it
ill-advised to temper with the reconstruction process [of the company]
this point in time."
Rule of law or tribal rifts?
Zimbabwe makes a show of maintaining a rule of law - even jailed
journalists accused of treason can have their day in court - true power and
political alliances still revolve around tribal and family relations. The
main division within the ZANU-PF, for instance, runs along tribal lines with
the friends and relatives belonging to the Karanga tribe of Defense Minister
Emmerson Mnangagwa on one side, and the friends and relatives of Vice
President Joyce Mujuru's (and President Mugabe's) Zezuru tribe on the
Anything that disturbs that tribal balance, including the recent
death of
Mugabe's second vice president, Joseph Msika - a Zezuru -has the
for setting off violent sparring among ambitious contenders within
Ironically, it is ZANU-PF's persistent use of force against any
that many analysts interpret as a sign of weakness.
"land invasions," in which Mugabe supporters were encouraged to force
farmers off their lands, came just after a stinging referendum in
Zimbabweans voted en masse in 2000 against Mugabe and in favour of a
constitution that would weaken Mugabe's power.
The use of security forces
and private militias to intimidate, detain,
torture and kill opposition
supporters during the lead-up to the March 2008
elections is also viewed by
many observers as a ZANU-PF response to seeing
its grip on Zimbabwean voters
slipping. Nearly 500 opposition supporters
were killed during those
elections, and thousands more were displaced. The
ZANU-PF denied that it had
any role in the detention, torture, or death of
Resistance to Mugabe-Mawere resolution
But despite
this hardened attitude on the political field, Mugabe's
willingness to meet
with Mawere, the businessman, in South Africa this past
May, sent shivers
through much of the ZANU-PF establishment.
Senior ZANU-PF officials,
including Chinamasa, publicly denied that Mugabe
had met Mawere in May. But
a member of Zimbabwe's Central Intelligence
Office (CIO), confirms that the
meeting took place, and that it was cordial.
"The president wanted Mawere
to furnish him with details and circumstance
that led to the reconstruction
of SMMH and some of his companies, which is
currently taking place and what
led to his specification," says the CIO
officer, speaking on condition of
anonymity. "At the second meeting, the
businessman brought all the important
papers about SMMH and the president
promised that he would help
It is this promise that caused the strongest reactions among senior
members in Mugabe's Cabinet. Arguing first that the president had no
to interrupt the process of nationalizing Mawere's companies, and
arguing that intervening in a court case now would set a precedent for
court cases, Mugabe's presumed underlings repeatedly stalled the
countermanding Mugabe's orders.
In a June 7, 2009, text
message to Mawere, Reserve Bank governor Gono writes
that he is facing stiff
resistance from Chinamasa and Mnangagwa, who are
trying to stop the
president's efforts through legal and illegal means.
"We want to move
swiftly so that matter is not intercepted," Gono writes. "I
hear guys were
lining up to snap your cos [companies] after legal or illegal
process in cot
this or next week. They wil b surprised."
In a separate message on that
day, Gono adds, "Pse accept an apology frm 4
any distress I may have bn said
I caused tho my prez and me are now clear
wht we seem 2 hav bn up gainst!
Misrepresentations and malice behind our
baks! Gud day."
Court case
goes ahead
At present Mawere, who confirms the details of this story and
the veracity
of the documents obtained by the Monitor, says he does not know
how long the
court case will take, nor what the outcome will be. Civil cases
in Zimbabwe
can take years to complete, or they can be thrown out in a day
or two.
But in Mawere's court statements, the implications of this case
show a
government in disarray, with individual ministers following their own
directions and disregarding those of Mugabe.
"To date, His
Excellencey [Mugabe] has not officially informed me of the
outcome of his
intervention," Mawere writes in an Aug. 2009 court affidavit.
"All I have
been able to establish is that the negotiations were interrupted
by the
Respondent [Chinamasa] with the support of the Minister of Defence,
Hon. E.
Mnangagwa, whose interest and involvement in the matter remains
"One can hardly say that the decision to stop negotiations
was made by the
government as alleged by the Respondent," Mawere continues.
"There is no
basis for the Applicant [Chinamasa] to withdraw this appeal
because the
decision to postpone the litigation was at the instance of Dr.
Gono under
the instruction of His Excellency, The President of Zimbabwe.
However, this
case appears to have its own peculiar features that go beyond
* A Zimbabwean journalist, whose name could not
be given for security
reasons, wrote this story from Johannesburg.
By ALEX PERRY Monday, Sep. 14, 2009
Having produced
extraordinary works by the likes of Peter Godwin (Mukiwa),
Alexandra Fuller
(Scribbling the Cat) and Nobel laureate Doris Lessing,
Zimbabwe's troubles
seem to prove that you need to suffer for your art. But
those authors are
white, and Zimbabwe is a country of millions of blacks,
whose troubles have
undoubtedly been worse. So do we really need another
memoir by a white
The surprising answer is yes, if it's as good as Douglas
Rogers' The Last
Resort. Like Godwin and Fuller, Rogers is a Zimbabwean
journalist who moved
to the U.S. only to discover that he'd left his biggest
story at home. His
tale recounts how, as Robert Mugabe's Zimbabwe collapses
around them, the
author's parents turn their backpackers' lodge first into a
bordello, then a
diamond smugglers' dive, then a refuge for opposition
activists - as all the
while they farm marijuana. (See pictures of Robert
A ripping yarn, for sure. But it is in the nuance Rogers brings
to Zimbabwe
that he truly excels. His characters, and his country, are full
contradictions. His parents' defiance of Mugabe's regime is partly based
ignorance. Their enemies can be cruel, greedy and bloodthirsty, but also
kind and righteous. As the country implodes, Rogers' tough, cynical mother
breaks down in the middle of a bungled backstreet deal for a fake passport.
Her idea of Zimbabwe, she realizes, is a long way from the daily reality
faced by millions of her countrymen, or even, now, herself. "She no longer
understood her town ..." writes Rogers, "the town where she had been born 66
years before."
It's scenes like these that move The Last Resort
beyond memoir to become a
chronicle of a nation. There is black and white,
yes, but much more in the
shades and tones of their mix - and it is in
exploring them that Rogers,
too, finds his art.


text:
SMTA International
Conference: Sep. 27 - Oct. 1, 2015
Exhibition: Sep. 29 - 30, 2015
Donald Stephens Convention Center
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Be Part of the Solution...
Participate in the industry's best technical conference
On behalf of the
SMTA International Technical Committee
, I invite you to
submit an abstract
for the 2015 conference.
Short course (1/2 day - 3.5 hours) proposals
are also being solicited.
Materials must be original, unpublished and non-commercial in nature.
Papers should describe significant results from experiments, emphasize new techniques, and contain technical, economic or appropriate test data.
There are many benefits to participating!
You will:
1. Make a contribution to our industry by sharing your work.
2. Network with industry colleagues and showcase your company's position in the industry as an author and speaker,
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4. Be eligible for
$1,000 cash awards for the 'Best of Conference', 'Best of Proceedings', and 'Best International' papers
5. $500 award for the best student paper.
We look forward to reviewing your abstract!
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Axiom Electronics
Late abstract submissions will be accepted until March 13th
Acceptance: April 28, 2015 | Final Papers Due: July 13, 2015
Choose the Submit Abstract button below and fill out all information on the following form.
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to submitting an abstract. When a paper is accepted by the Technical Committee, it is our expectation that you have budget approval for travel costs and conference registration which is required for speakers.
The Technical Committee is soliciting abstracts in the following categories:
Component Packaging Technology:
0.3mm Pitch
2.5/3D Packaging and Integration
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CU Pillars
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Direct Chip Attach
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Emerging Technologies:
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PCB Technology:
Black Pad and Surface Finish Defects
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Inspection Technologies:
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Thanks and the
SMTAI Technical Committee
looks forward to hearing from you!
SMTAI Conference Chair, Rob Rowland, Axiom Electronics
SMTA VP Technical Programs, Raiyo Aspandiar, Ph.D., Intel Corporation
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UPDATE: Miss Cooper was dropped off at the first precinct stationhouse just after midnight, police and the store owners said. She has returned to her pen in the front of the store with her bunny friend, Jack. "I always make a point of walking by and waving at the rabbits," said renowned journalist Carl Bernstein, who visited the shop Saturday after he read of the bunny-napping in the Daily News.
"I'm glad it's going to be a happy ending." Good News for everyone especially the rabbits.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The thieves are thought to be a couple who had regularly visited the store and have petted the bunnies on several occasions. According to one of the store owners, "A lot of people come to see the bunnies, though, so it didn't seem out of the ordinary."
What the thieves may not realize is the theft of one rabbit puts both rabbits in jeopardy. It is cruel to separate a bonded pair of rabbits since it can be life threatening for one or both of the bunnies. Domesticated rabbits are highly social herd animals and they bond for life. Miss Cooper will be in a new environment with strangers and also stressed by the absence of her bonded rabbit friend. The other rabbit, Jack, may also exhibit stress from the separation. Stress can cause lethargy and loss of appetite. It is a very short process from this to GI Stasis which is potentially fatal. Both may need immediate veterinary care if they exhibit symptoms. I never separate bonded rabbit pairs. Sometimes when one rabbit of a bonded pair passes away the remaining rabbit has a very difficult time recovering from the other's death. If Miss Cooper's abductors are not experienced with rabbits, she may not survive. I doubt the thieves who stole Miss Cooper know or care how their actions will hurt both rabbits, or they wouldn't have snatched the rabbit in the first place. However, if they care for Miss Cooper (and Jack) at all, they must return her home very soon.
(Photo credit: DNAinfo.com)


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On the shores of beautiful Lake DuBay, in the heart of Central Wisconsin. Lake DuBay Shores Campground is located just 2 miles west of Hwy 39 between Stevens Point and Wausau.
This quiet family campground is the perfect spot for your next camping vacation. Come relax lakeside, and enjoy amazing sunsets across the waters of Lake DuBay. Or feel the warmth from the campfire as the kids roast marshmallows and make memories.
Each summer we offer excellent boating, fishing, swimming, water skiing and canoeing. But did you know we are open all year? Fall and winter are some of the best times to enjoy a warm campfire. Autumn's brilliant colors are a must see, and hunters can pursue wildlife of choice in the nearby refuge. Winter campers enjoy great ice fishing, snowmobile, cross country skiing or snowshoeing trails throughout the county, or can soar down various runs at Granite Peak.
Lake DuBay Shores, it's all here, all year for you to enjoy!
From I39/Hwy 51:
Take exit 175. Turn south onto Hwy 34. Continue 2 miles; turn left on DuBay Dr., just across the bridge over the Wisconsin River/Lake DuBay. Follow one block to campground; office is on the right.
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Almodóvar Lite
A Virgin's Trembling Heart: Young Victor (Liberto Rabal) can't forget the woman who deflowered him in 'Live Flesh.'
'Live Flesh' delivers pastel-toned pathos
THE NEW Pedro Almodóvar film, Live Flesh, is milder Almodóvar, in the new style of his last movie, Flower of My Secret, but neither as compelling nor as bewildering. We all become the things we satirize. Almodóvar started by skewering soap operas, and now he has the style down complete. Occasional bursts of sex don't make Live Flesh's chic story of human flotsam challenging. Instead of the vibrant artificial colors of his early films, the director gives us a sort of pastel-toned pathos. When a character says, "I wouldn't mind ending up in a wheelchair, if I could get Clara back," it's hard to take him seriously but impossible to laugh either.
Victor (the Antonio Banderas-like Liberto Rabal), a studly innocent with a virgin's trembling heart, is used fast but dropped hard by Elena (Francesca Neri), who deflowered him in a disco bathroom. When he comes back to discuss the matter, she's scared of him and uses a pistol to frighten him away. The gun goes off, a cop (played by Javier Bardem) ends up in a wheelchair and the poor ex-virgin goes to jail for several years. When Victor emerges from incarceration, he discovers that the cop he went to jail for shooting has married and reformed the wealthy, trashy Elena. You don't expect Almodóvar to take you to an orphanage or to a game of wheelchair basketball; Live Flesh is a good-looking melodrama with a few arresting comic tones, but it's no more than that.
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Daniel Martinez
Live Flesh (R; 100 min.), directed and written by Pedro Almodóvar, based on the novel by Ruth Rendell, photographed by Affonso Beato and starring Angela Molina and Liberto Rabel.
From the February 19-25, 1998 issue of Metro.
Foreclosures - Real Estate Investing
San Jose.com Real Estate


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36 year old man | Gibbstown, NJ, USA | Seeking women 27-35 within 10 miles of Sicklerville, NJ
looking for something real.
I am 5'11."blue eyes.brown hair.well toned.weight 150 lbs.outgoing,easy to get along with. aries.I enjoy hanging out with friends.going to the shore.spending time with someone who enjoys my company.love sports.I would like to date someone who is fun to be around,outgoing like myself.Someone who is careing,and most important someone who is honest.If your looking for a relationship i'm waiting.
Coffee and conversation , Cooking , Dining out , Hobbies and crafts , Movies/Videos , Playing cards , Playing sports , Watching sports
Basketball, Billiards / Pool, Football, Hockey, Inline skating, Other types of exercise, Running, Swimming, Walking / Hiking, Weights / Machines
I exercise 5 or more times per week.
I have Cats, Dogs
I like Reptiles
Middle of the Road
Enjoy going to the shore.Every once in a while going to atlantic city.Hanging out in philly watching the races or just to grab a famous philly cheesesteak.
favorite tv shows occ(orange county choppers).shows along those lines.big sports fan which is what i mostly watch.like rock,club,alternative,etc.favorite color is red.
Hang out with friends,shot pool,going to car shows.love sports playing and watching them.into hot rods.most of all spending time with that special someone.
Him | What he is looking for | |
Appearance | ||
Height: | 5'11" (180cms) | 5'3" (160cms) to 6'0" (182cms) |
Body type: | Athletic and toned | Slender, Athletic and toned, A few extra pounds |
Eyes: | Blue | Blue, Green |
Hair: | Dark brown | Auburn / Red, Black, Light brown, Dark brown, Blonde, Dark blonde |
Lifestyle | ||
Smoke: | Occasionally | No Way, Occasionally |
Drink: | Social Drinker | Social Drinker |
Occupation: | Labor / Construction | Other profession |
I am a bricklayer by trade.love my job keeps me in shape |
Income: | $25,001 to $35,000 | $25,001 to $35,000 |
Relationship: | Never Married | Never Married, Currently Separated, Divorced |
Have kids: | No | No, Yes, and they live at home |
Wants kids: | Definitely | Definitely |
Background | ||
Ethnicity: | White / Caucasian | Asian, Latino / Hispanic, White / Caucasian |
Faith: | I'll tell you later | Other |
Languages: | English | English |
Education: | High school | High school |


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2009 2004 2003 2002 2000 1998 1997
For Growth Management Commission meetings convened as part of regular Planning Commission meetings, please see the May or June Planning Commission meeting minutes for each year since 2004. Please contact the Recording Secretaries Division of the Carson City Clerk's Office with questions - 887-2086, ext. 30412.
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Verbal threats, name calling, rumors and tags on Facebook are all forms of bullying Wapakoneta High School students say they have experienced from other classmates.
"It's a pretty big problem," junior Kiesha Simpson said.
Megan Steinke, also a junior, said the biggest way students are bullied at the school is online, typically on Facebook.
"The same people do it, they just change who they do it to," Megan said.
While the girls said for the most part they try to ignore it, name calling and gossip still hurts.
Federal budget cuts the past two years and additional cuts expected for 2013 is forcing a local farm executive to trim services for area farmers.
Auglaize County Farm Service Agency Executive Director Anita Green said the U.S. Farm Service Agency (FSA) experienced 12 percent budget cuts in 2011 and 2012, with additional cuts forthcoming in 2013. To help with the budget crisis, all federal employees experienced a wage freeze the past two years.
If a law enforcement officer believes a gun is for real, then the law enforcement officer will likely treat that weapon as being real, city leaders say.
The best way to avoid an incident, they advise, is to practice safety measures as if the airsoft toy weapon is a real gun.
A PDS tornado watch has been issued for most of Auglaize and Shelby County until 9 p.m. tonight.
Weather maps showed a particularly strong area of storms in the area of Indianapolis at about 3 p.m. that were causing several tornado warnings in that area.
Auglaize County EMA Director Troy Anderson said a severe thunderstorm warning is likely to be issued for the area soon. The weather forecast includes strong thunderstorms during the evening that will give way to partly cloudy skies after midnight. Damaging winds, large hail, and possibly a tornado with some of the storms are possible.
Beginning today, a new application should make navigating Auglaize County geographic information system (GIS) mapping easier.
"We tried to keep it similar to what we already had and make it simpler to use," Auglaize County GIS Director Joe Collin said as he clicked through the site, noting changes, many of which make it more user friendly. "There are no real changes to the map application put in place in 2005 other than a few layers added over the years. It's a lot of the same tools, we've just made them easier to use."
Most parents know their children can be ornery, no matter their age.
Under the circumstances, Annette Hensley is likely to forgive that tendency in her son.
U.S. Navy Petty Officer Jordan Hensley surprised his mother Thursday at the Wapakoneta Elementary School Thursday with a visit. Annette Hensley works in the cafeteria at the school.
CRIDERSVILLE — An area village's website will soon get a makeover, as village officials are looking into different avenues for a redesign.
Cridersville Village Administrator John McDonald and Village Operator Jarid Kohlrieser have been researching companies and individuals to hire to create a new website for the village of Cridersville.
"(Mayor) Lorali Myers asked us to check on web design options suggested by (council president) Eric West and (former councilor) Jeff Bassitt," McDonald said.


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HYDERABAD: The state government on Thursday candidly admitted that the number of fire stations, fire fighting vehicles and number of workers were not in accordance with fire service norms.
The situation is more alarming in twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad.
In urban areas there is a need to have one fire station for every 50,000 population within a radium of 10 sq km.
Unfortunately this is not so.
Presently for every 44 sq km with a population of 3.45 lakh there is one fire station, Home minister, P Sabita Indra Reddy said.
Replying to a question raised by MIM floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi, Anam Vivekananada Reddy and others, she admitted that number of fire stations, vehicles and staff strength are not in accordance with norms of fires services in the state, particularly in city limits.
At present there are about 252 fire stations in the state, of which 13 stations are in twin cities and are working 24/7.
The government has accorded six new fire stations in first phase, that include state assembly, Andhra Pradesh high court, Mehidipatnam, Secretariat, Madhapur and Maheshwaram.
A few more stations have been proposed at different places, including Chandrayangutta, Uppal, L B Nagar and other places.
It is also proposed to open and upgrade eight fire stations under the XIII finance commission grants to enhance fire fighting and rescue capabilities.
There is also a proposal to establish 46 fire stations in market yards.
The budget allocation for fire services department is Rs 185 cr for 2012-13, Of this, Rs 152 cr has been sanctioned for fire services department under non-plan and Rs 32 cr under plan expenditure.
The department has spent Rs 17 cr for modernisation of equipment, the minister added.


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Charades: Bickering takes the place of true political backbone
The problem with government these days is that its leaders do not seem to understand that they cannot have it both ways. They want a nation that is protected from terrorists, and goverment officials to know in advance before a...Please log in to see full story.
Published in Editorials on February 7, 2006 9:57 AM


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by Rick Norwood | |
Babylon 5, "Sleeping in Light" (****) by J. Michael Straczynski | |
Endings are hard.
"Sleeping in Light", the final episode of Babylon 5, is set 20 years after the end of the
Shadow War. John Sheridan is dying.
There are two ways a writer can end a story. The easy way, the standard way, is to end the
story with a bang. "The dam broke! The volcano erupted! The price of foodstuffs skyrocketed!"
The other way, the quieter way, the more dangerous way, is to end by validating everything
the hero stood for, and yet acknowledge that all good things must come to an end.
European fairy tales end, "And they lived happily ever after."
Arabian fairy tales end, "And they lived happily ever after until death, the sunderer of all
delights, took them."
Which ending to you prefer?
Star Wars ends with a bang!
The Lord of the Rings ends on a quiet note. Tolkien tries the harder way. Does he
succeed? In the published version, not entirely to my satisfaction. I prefer the last chapter that the
original publisher asked him to remove.
The original Star Trek series ended with whimper. Gene Roddenberry told Desilu Studios,
"Put Star Trek on in a decent time slot, or I quit." Desilu said, "So quit". And Roddenberry washed
his hands of the third and final season. But he did come back for one last episode, and he did
something that was, at the time, unprecedented. Instead of showing all the new shows and finishing
with reruns, he held back the last episode until the end of the summer, so that it was the last show
aired. At the time, no one suspected that Star Trek would take on a second life in syndication.
This was to be the end. Roddenberry wrote the story, Arthur H. Singer wrote the teleplay.
"Turnabout Intruder" (**) is a very good script. There are some things to look for if you watch it on the
SciFi Channel. Some of the regular cast has already left. The director, Herb Wallerstein,
obviously doesn't give a damn. William Shatner, playing a woman, has a blast. It was at least one
of the better third season episodes, and the only one with the genuine Roddenberry touch. A
passable ending for the series that brought real science fiction to television for the first time.
The final episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation was watched by a huge audience, and
while "All Good Things" (***) was not the best TNG episode, it made a nice full circle, ending
the series as it began, with Q.
How will Deep Space Nine end, six months from now? Time will tell, but I have high
hopes, since every episode so far this season has been excellent.
And how did Babylon 5 end, you ask? Ah! That would be telling. Do you think I am
the kind of reviewer who would give away an ending?
| |
The X-Files, "Triangle" (***) written and directed by Chris Carter | |
I am going to give away the ending of this X-Files episode, right after this:
spoiler warning
And I recommend you allow me to give this one away, because it may save you from
throwing a brick through your TV screen. It's all a dream. That's right. The hoariest ending in the
book. It never happened. How do you like them apples?
end spoiler warning
That said, the show has a lot to recommend it, in terms of acting, directing, and generally
pushing the envelope of what can and cannot be done on television. (Including, for what it's
worth, the first use of the "s word" on a prime time entertainment program. Big deal.)
This is the much hyped, enthusiastically reviewed time travel story, where Fox Mulder is
thrown through time onto a ship lost in the Bermuda Triangle and captured by Nazis.
The entire episode is lightly letterboxed, to excellent effect, especially in the split screen
shots and the wipes. It is shot in long, continuous takes -- tracking shots, in homage to Orson Wells
and Alfred Hitchcock. Hitchcock shot his film "Rope" (**) in ten minute sequences because the
camera would only hold ten minutes worth of film. Now, the steadicam will only hold eight minutes
of videotape, but that's OK, because eight minutes is just about all we've got between commercials.
The tracking shots generate tremendous energy. Also, the level of violence is greater than
anything I've seen on television. This is not Jackie Chan comic violence, but brutality that sickens
rather than excites. Some concessions are made -- someone standing in the foreground keeps us
from seeing brains splatter -- but there are some shocking scenes, rare in a medium which constant
excess has largely deprived of its power to shock.
And I will refrain from giving away one or two other "shocking" moments, in a story that is
certainly worth watching.
But it could have been a great episode, if Chris Carter had come up with a better way to
explain the inexplicable.
| |
Rick Norwood is a mathematician and writer whose small press publishing house, Manuscript Press, has published books by Hal Clement, R.A. Lafferty, and Hal Foster. He is also the editor of Comics Revue Monthly, which publishes such classic comic strips as Flash Gordon, Sky Masters, Modesty Blaise, Tarzan, Odd Bodkins, Casey Ruggles, The Phantom, Gasoline Alley, Krazy Kat, Alley Oop, Little Orphan Annie, Barnaby, Buz Sawyer, and Steve Canyon. |
If you find any errors, typos or other stuff worth mentioning,
please send it to firstname.lastname@example.com.
Copyright © 1996-2014 SF Site All Rights Reserved Worldwide


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The finished start - creating a toilet for the third world
Local farmer Robert Rowley has invented a toilet which he says could save lives in third world countries.
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Like many farm inventions, Robert Rowley's idea for a sustainable toilet came about out of a combination of tinkering and necessity.
He's spent a lot of time on the concept and come up with an idea which he feels could stretch way beyond the confines of shearing sheds and the like, and which could help to solve hygene problems in third world countries.
A large part of farming is about observing life cycles, and perhaps that's partly what's inspired the name Robert has given his invention - 'The Finished Start'.
His design recycles things which are common on farms including standard size plastic buckets, and simply places two of them inside a wooden cabinet with a piece of specially shaped stainless steel separating the two.
As Robert explains, the stainless steel is the only part of the invention which really needs to be specially manufactured.
The two buckets are placed to allow for male and female differences, with one collecting urine, and the other collecting feaces.
According to Robert the urine can be easily watered down and then used on gardens, while the contents of the second bucket (which is lined with newspaper and dried out using sawdust) can be incinerated to create biochar.
Robert goes on to explain this biochar can play an important role in rejuvenating the soil, and because it's incinerated it's safe to use, allowing for a quick turnaround compared with having to wait months for composted human waste to be safe to use.
When it comes to marketing the idea Robert says he's no PR person, but he uses the analogy of a French King who made potatoes popular by passing a law decreeing they were only to be eaten by the aristocracy.
Those lower down the social scale started pinching the potatoes, thus making them incredibly popular.
Perhaps in a similar way Robert is keen to get a really good prototype of his toilet out there in the hope someone will basically steal the design and start manufacturing it to get it out to those third world communities where he feels it will have the most impact.
The toilet would also have many uses on farms, in hiking rest stops, at music festivals, and so on - basically anywhere where people need a toilet and the water supply is either limited or non-existent.
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- Elders wool manager Andrew Howells on prices reaching a 14-month high


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PixelJunk Eden Review
Welcome to your new Eden.
PixelJunk Eden is the third game in the PixelJunk series from Q-Games, a developer that has cranked out three entirely unique, PSN-exclusive titles in less than a year. Somewhat similar to thatgamecompany's trippy flOw, PixelJunk Eden is a game that defies current mechanical rules in terms of game progression and structure, giving players a title that feels rather free and immensely exploratory. While it has practically nothing in common with either PixelJunk Racers or PixelJunk Monsters, it does wind up matching Monsters' high level of addiction, even if said addiction creeps up on you.
You begin the game as a Grimp (grip + jump) in your own personal Eden. Your Eden is home to ten gardens, which are the game's unique levels. As you work to compete each of these gardens, your Eden grows and flourishes, which then allows you access newer gardens (or hidden secrets).
When you enter a garden, your main goal is to hunt down Spectra -- glowing objects that will cause more things in your Eden to grow. Many of these gardens start out rather empty, so you first need to "fill" empty seedlings with pollen, which burst out of floating Prowlers when you hit them. When each seedling is full, you can touch it to burst the seed apart and grow a new piece of the level, which then gets you closer to new seedlings and, eventually, the Spectra.
While the game's success essentially relies on collection and exploration, it's the mechanics that play a large part in making PixelJunk Eden unique. When standing (or hanging), you use the left analog stick to aim your next jump. You don't have control over power, just the angle. Once you've launched, you can influence your movement in the air, but you don't have direct control. You automatically grab onto anything that you touch, which means that really the only thing that limits your exploration is how far you can jump. Along with jumping, you can also tether yourself to any soft object (not hard rock, for instance) by tapping X only once, and then use the left stick to rotate around in a circle. This will allow you to collect nearby Prowlers and gather their pollen without having to leave your perch.
It's a very simple set of controls that keeps the focus on the experience rather than memorizing complex moves and tactics. However, there is a decent learning curve in gaining expert control over your Grimp. You can jump a very long distance, so just getting used to how far you'll go or what angle you need to jump at to reach something will take a good bit of time to master. Beyond this, while swinging around a spot is easy to pull off, you'll find that you'll pick up advanced uses for it later on, like swinging around objects to reach mature seeds and places that you otherwise wouldn't easily be able to jump to.
Of course, the game is not without its foes, and you'll find an assortment of creatures to "fight" in many of the game's gardens. The first enemy you'll encounter has a rotating shield and you'll need to time your pounce to destroy it, while later enemies will require different tactics to take them down. The variety here is pretty good, though the total number of enemy types is relatively small.
One interesting thing is that you don't actually have health and are never in danger of dying. Instead, your time in a garden is metered by a time gauge, which you can refill by collecting little gems in each level. So the enemies can't actually kill you, they can only knock you away from wherever you are and force you to climb back up, wasting some of your precious time and, occasionally, testing your tolerance of annoyances.
One thing that's important for me to point out is that while I thought my first half-hour or so with the game was fun, I quickly began to think that every garden would be similar and that all I'd be doing is traversing the floating landscapes in search of Spectra. The second garden is quite similar to the first, and the third isn't a whole lot different, though the complexity of the layout does increase. However, as you get further into the game, gardens become more and more unique, and you'll find yourself in places that you never would have imagined at the start of the game. The direction of gravity becomes a factor later on and portals help give the game a bit of a puzzle twist. And while the layouts in the beginning of the game look nice, stuff at the end is laid out in brilliant fashion, challenging you to figure out how to penetrate (or separate) solid rock to get to the Spectra.
The further into the game I got, the more addicted I became. At the start, I was content with getting one more Spectra to increase my numerical progress, but by about half-way through I wanted those glowing treasures to help grow my Eden and to unlock new levels that would surprise me. The further I went, the less it became about racking up a progress counter and more about seeing what lay ahead. Indeed, PixelJunk Eden will hook you. It may take a couple hours, but it'll get its claws in you one way or another.
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Adventure Tours Offered:
Sonoran Desert Off-Road Adventures
Tomcar Driving Adventure – This Adventure takes you deep into the Sonoran Desert where you may see javalinas, desert mule deer, wild burros, coyotes, rattlesnakes, scorpions and other indigenous creatures. We will lead you on a guided Adventure as you drive a Tomcar to some of the following attractions (weather permitting): Abandoned Mine, Indian Ruins, Fresh Water Oasis, Old Stage Coach Trail and River Crossings. This is the tour that has won us so much acclaim on TripAdvisor and NBC's The Golf Channel. For more information, click here. Or, click here to BOOK NOW (Duration is approximately 3 to 3.5 hours. We provide bandannas and water. Min. of 2 guests over 12 years old. Discount for kids under 12. Tomcar adventures run daily at 8:30 am and 2:00 pm. Reservations required. Max rider weight of 280 lbs. Must be 18 or older with a valid drivers license to drive a Tomcar.)
PRIVATE Pinzgauer "Happy Hour" Sunset Adventure –
Price is $799 for the entire vehicle which seats up to 8 and includes your private driver. Do you want a PRIVATE Happy Hour Sunset Tour? Then, this is the tour for you. For one low price, up to 8 people can enjoy their own private guided sunset tour in the Sonoran Desert. That is less than $100 per person.
Come experience the rugged Sonoran Desert on our new kind of tour experience in one of the most agile troop carriers in the World. This historic Pinzgauer is a highly accomplished off-road military vehicle capable of going places that even Hummers cannot. (It is built by the same company that builds the Mercedes G Wagon.) Hop in the back of our Pinzgauer and experience the Arizona sunset like never before! Your Adventure Guide will traverse the dynamic terrain and bring you to "Sunset Point", where you will watch the beautiful sunset cast an array of colors through the sky as it dips behind the distant mountain vistas. It's a sunset you are sure to remember! Once the darkness rises over the eastern horizon, we will head further on your journey while the desert takes on a new life. As the nocturnal creatures come out, you might just find among them Scorpions, which glow like the moon under our backlights, the famous Western Diamondback Rattler, Desert Mice, Jack Rabbits, Coyotes, and if you are lucky… possibly a Bobcat or majestic Mountain Lion! This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience! Come see the Sonoran Desert like never before!
For more information, click here. Or, click here to BOOK NOW
(Duration is about 2.5 to 3.0 hours. We provide bandannas, an ice chest and water. Tour departs approximately 1 hour before sunset.)
Tomcar Sunset Adventures – We offer the area's ONLY self-drive desert night adventure! Why sit in the back seat when you can be driving your vehicle equipped with brilliant LED lights? The desert takes on a whole different perspective and critters may come out for your viewing pleasure using our night vision devices. If you have never experienced the amazing desert at night, this is a MUST DO! And, it gets about 20 to 30 degrees cooler at night! ONLY AVAILABLE JUNE 1 THRU SEPTEMBER 14. For more information, click here. Or, click here to BOOK NOW (Duration 2.5-3.0 hours. Two-guest minimum. Age 12 and older. Tour departs approximately 1 hour before sunset. Notice: Tomcar Sunset Adventures only run June through September.)
Sonoran Desert Firearms Adventures
Top Guns Adventure – Our Top Guns Adventure (formerly known as the Firearms 101) lets you shoot the three most popular guns in the world, the Glock, the AR-15 and the AK-47. You'll meet us at our base of operations and be given an exciting and fun briefing on the technology of the firearms you'll be issued, as well as the science behind ballistics. Before handling live weapons, you will drill with the use of 'blue' plastic replicas. You'll then move on to live fire exercises with semi-automatic M4s, AK47s and Glock 17 handguns, firing numerous rounds from each, complete with magazine change, in varied protocols that mimic real life situations. All of our firearms are meticulously maintained and our cartridges (bullets) are from the top manufacturers; insuring your safety throughout your experience. We thrill complete novices and seasoned shooters alike. Come see for yourself why we have been ranked the #1 firearms adventure by our thousands and thousands of guests! Course is currently offered on Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday. Special scheduling accommodations can be requested by groups larger than 4 adult students, but are always subject to availability. Due to heavy volume and limited space, the Top Guns Adventure is only being offered as part of a Package. For more information, click here. Or, click here to BOOK NOW (Duration is approximately 1.5 hours. Minimum of 2 guests. We have a closed range for your safety – NO SPECTATORS ALLOWED. 8 years old and up to shoot. .22 cal pistol and rifle available on request.)
TOURIST TIP – When selecting a company for your shooting adventure, make sure you ask to see the Instructor's NRA Certification. We know of at least one local tour company that advertises that all of their instructors are NRA Certified, but we know for a fact that this is not true. There are a lot of unsafe and uncertified "instructors" out there, so BUYER BEWARE.
The Bucket List – Want to add a little more excitement to your Top Guns Adventure? Always wanted to shoot a .50 cal Desert Eagle handgun or a full-auto military rifle? Maybe you like blowing things up. Or, perhaps you've always dreamed about being John Wayne and trying your hand at a Cowboy 6 shooter or a lever action Winchester? We have you covered. Add some things from our Bucket List to your shoot for a truly amazing experience you'll never forget. We call it the Bucket List because everyone should have this stuff on their personal Bucket List! For more information, click here. Or, click here to BOOK NOW.
COMING SOON – BOOM! Adventure – This is our NEWEST offering where you will experience the adrenaline-pumping thrill of blowing up 5 lbs of explosive with some really awesome rifles. This is a great adventure that men, women and kids (8 years and up) alike will never forget! This course is about 1.5 hours long. Click Here for more info on this Adventure! Or, click here to BOOK NOW. See what Megan Doyle from Scottsdale Convention and Visitor's Bureau had to say about our Boom Adventure!
All Off-Road Tours depart from the RoadRunner Restaurant and Saloon, 1 mile North of Phoenix in New River, AZ. For more info, click here